Elephant In The Neighborhood

HipGnosis · Oct 2, 2017

Lara said:
As my friend was passing some elephants who were being held by only a rope tied to their legs. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not.
My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well”, he said. “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. The powerful and gigantic creature has limited its present abilities by the limitations of its past.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life holding onto a belief that we cannot do something simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us refuse to attempt something new and challenging because of our so called mindset?

I've known this for years, and wonder the same thing. That's why if I ever start getting tattoos, my second one will be a coil of rope with a feather resting on it - in a place that I will see it every day (possibly in the mirror). I actually went to get that tattoo once, but the guy would only do it twice as big as I want.

Meanderer · Oct 3, 2017

"Tembo, Mother of Elephants, Commerce Court Courtyard, 199 Bay Street
This is one of the largest bronze elephant statue in the world and worth finding. Tucked away below King Street inside Commerce Courtyard amongst suits, and skirts-andrunning-shoe-combos is Tembo (Swahili for elephant) and her two babies. Don't try sitting on these bronze babes by Derrick Stephan Hudson during business hours, or security will politely ask you to step off".

Meanderer · Oct 9, 2017

"If you were an elephant …

… the world would be a bright, smellier, noisier place – and you would be a better, wiser, kinder person. The author of Being a Beast explains all". by Charles Foster

"If you were an elephant living wild in a western city, you’d be confused and disgusted.

You’d have one two-fingered hand swinging from your face – a hand as sensitive as tumescent *******s, but which could smash a wall or pick a cherry. With that hand you’d explore your best friends’ mouths, just for the sake of friendship. With that hand you’d smell water miles away and the flowers at your feet. You’d sift it all, triaging. Category 1: immediate danger. Category 2: potential threat. Category 3: food and water. Category 4: weather forecasts – short and long range. Category 5: pleasure".